Man jailed over threats to his mum and step-father

A man who threatened his mother and step-father with weapons in their own home has been locked up for 20 months.

A court heard Michael Yates also rang his mother from prison and threatened to burn her house down if she did not drop charges against him.

Leeds Crown Court heard Yates turned up at his mother’s home in Castleford on May 26 this year and demanded money.

Carmel Pearson, prosecuting, said Yates became aggressive and threatened to kill her when she told him he could not have any cash. Yates then entered the house carrying a knife and some nunchuks and said to his mother and step-father: “I’m going to kill you both.”

Yates was arrested and rang his mother from custody. Miss Pearson said he then threatened her and told her to ring a solicitor to get the charges against him dropped.

Yates, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to affray, two offences of possession of an offensive weapon and perverting justice.

He has a previous conviction for possession of a medieval mace in public in 2006. Christopher Morton, mitigating, said Yates was experiencing a drug-induced psychotic episode when he made the threats at his mother’s home.

He said Yates was living in a tent in a swamp at the time and had been taking amphetamines and drinking to cope with his problems. The lawyer said his client heard voices in his head telling him that his mother owed him money.

The court heard Yates later told a psychiatrist that he had no motivation to stop taking drugs, saying: “I love amphetamines and I don’t think I will stop.” Judge Geoffrey Marson, QC, told Yates: “These psychotic incidents are self-induced because you are taking drugs. If you did not take them you would not have them.”